Some local 29 drivers were punished by 6 p.m. yesterday for refusing a "quick solution" to minor road accidents and 45 vehicles were detained by the traffic police, since the practice was officially launched Friday.

Under the new regulations, car owners involved in minor accidents which cause no injuries are required to file a report to confirm the accident and then quickly remove their cars from the site of the accident so as not to hold up traffic, a so-called "quick solution."

A total of 165 drivers voluntarily reported "quick solutions" to police for minor accidents within the past four days. A further 475 people applied "quick solutions" to accidents as suggested by traffic policemen on the spot. In all, "quick solutions" resolved 26.9 percent of all road accidents without casualties within the Special Economic Zone over the past four days.

The traffic authority warned yesterday that more severe punishments await drivers involved in minor accidents who refuse "quick solutions." For instance, drivers who crash their vehicles into other vehicles by changing lanes against the traffic rules will be exempted from penalties if they agree to "quick solutions." But they will pay a fine of several hundred yuan if they refuse and cause traffic jams.

Those who offer false information in the "quick solution" confirmation letter can be treated as hit-and-run drivers and punished severely, the traffic authority warned.

Shenzhen traffic police first trialed the practice Oct. 1, offering "quick solutions" to minor accidents in order to ease traffic jams and save drivers' time. During the past two months, there has been a 30 per cent fall in traffic jams in the city though there has been no change in the number of road accidents.

Drivers can get "quick solution" confirmation letters, at traffic police offices, insurance companies and gas stations. The traffic police authorities have also set up two large-scale service centers in Luofang community and Silver Lake in Luohu District, which offer a one-stop service for road accident "quick solutions."

Editor: Donald